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Manchester transport chiefs welcome government plans

14/12/2006

Government plans to transform local bus services have been welcomed by the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (GMPTA).

The GMPTA has said that proposals put forward by transport secretary Douglas Alexander "heralds the biggest shake-up to the way bus services in Greater Manchester have been run in 20 years".

Mr Alexander, in a new report called Putting Passengers First, has said that local authorities could be given more influence over bus fares and timetables.

The plans include giving better powers to traffic commissioners to drive up punctuality.

Councillor Roger Jones, the GMPTA chairman, said that it is "crucial" that local authorities have powers to make sure bus operators are accountable to passengers.

"For far too long bus operators have had it all their own way and passengers have had a raw deal," he stated.

The GMPTA has repeatedly voiced its frustration with the state of bus services in Greater Manchester and has condemned bus deregulation, which was introduced by the Tories 20 years ago, as a failure.




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